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Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the economic advisory council to the prime minister (EAC-PM), on Monday said those concerned about United States Agency for International Development’s (or USAID) “interference in Indian elections” should be equally concerned about its “tentacles” in India’s medical system and social policies.

Sanyal’s comments come in the backdrop of the US department of government efficiency (DOGE) announcing a series of expenditure cuts, including $21 million allocated for “voter turnout in India” through its foreign aid agency USAID. Headed by billionaire businessman Elon Musk, the DOGE is tasked with improving governance and curbing wasteful expenditures.

“USAID effectively ran India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS) from the 1990s till it was stopped two years ago,” Sanyal said in a post on X. “This is the most important medical dataset in India and drives a lot of health policy. Not only were we allowing a foreign agency to harvest our medical data but, by allowing them to design surveys and direct analysis, we were letting them influence our national health responses.”

In a follow-up post, Sanyal said that some people were asking why the USAID did the 2019-21 NFHS and was not removed earlier. “Well, it is not so easy to upturn a well established system that went back decades. It takes time to recognise a problem, and build capability to replace it,” he said, pointing out that the incumbent Union government has been “tightening” the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) over the last decade despite many howls of protest.

Earlier on Saturday, the DOGE in a post on X announced cancelling many programmes costing hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars.

“US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled,” it said. The list included $486 million in grants to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening” including $21 million for “voter turnout in India”.

Musk has also announced he would shut down USAID, which is responsible for humanitarian efforts around the globe.

Recently, President Donald Trump also criticised USAID, claiming its handling of funds is “fraudulently and unexplainable” and said the agency should “close down.”

“USAID is driving the radical left crazy, and there is nothing they can do about it because how the money has been spent, so much of it fraudulently, is unexplainable. The corruption is at levels rarely seen before. Close it down,” Trump wrote on X.

Several leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also criticised USAID, with former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleging the agency was “funnelling” large sums of money into India to instigate protests.

“This shocking revelation that organisations like USAID were funnelling crores of rupees to organisations in India just confirms that all of these protests that we were seeing over the last several years were foreign-funded. They were being instigated and puppet-mastered from across the border and that there are people in India, including political leaders, dynasts, who have essentially become weapons in the hands of countries and people who don’t want to see India rise,” he said in a self-made video on X.

USAID has been funding a large sum of money on India’s health sector, including in initiatives to combat tuberculosis or polio immunisation programmes. According to US government’s flagship website, ForeignAssistance.gov, which shows US foreign assistance data to the public, USAID “disbursed” $151,880,435 and is “obligated” to disburse $140,471, 959 in the financial year 2024. The previous year, disbursed amount stood at $175, 725, 009 and “obligated” was $127, 366, 506.

In 2023, a large chunk of USAID “disbursement” money– $120 million–went into the category of “Health and Population in India”. In 2024, $80 million also went to the same category.

The six continue to operate freely in Pakistan despite international sanctions and convictions, officials said, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Despite receiving a 78-year prison sentence in Pakistan in 2020 under US pressure, Saeed “is under protection of the ISI and freely carries out his group’s terror activities”, one of these officials said.

The group’s operations chief, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, received three consecutive five-year sentences for terror funding in 2021. However, Indian agencies’ officers say he can carry out his activities freely as well.

Commander Sajid Majeed, also known as Sajid Mir, was reportedly sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, but Indian officials say his whereabouts remain unclear. Three other suspects — retired military major Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (alias Pasha) and two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers, Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali — have never faced prosecution.

“Seven out of 10 conspirators were based in Pakistan at the time of 26/11 attacks, from planning stage to managing the control room”, a senior Indian officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We sent letters of request (letter rogatories) to Pakistan’s government seeking information and evidence against them but till date, there is no cooperation”.

Two other plotters are no longer at large. LeT’s former deputy head Abdul Rehman Makki, Saeed’s brother-in-law, died in Lahore last December.

Ilyas Kashmiri, who was a leader in al-Qaeda and its Pakistan-based affiliate Harkat-ul Jihad Islami, reportedly died in a US drone strike in June 2011.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of Rana’s appeal last month, followed by the Trump administration’s approval, paves the way for his extradition. “We have long supported India’s efforts to ensure the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks face justice,” a US State Department spokesperson told Hindustan Times.

Rana, a former Pakistan Army medical officer who moved to Canada in 1990 and later acquired citizenship, allegedly assisted David Coleman Headley in gathering intelligence for the attacks that killed 166 people. After relocating to Chicago, he opened a consultancy firm and, according to Indian agencies, established a Mumbai branch to help Headley gather information about potential targets.

Federal prosecutors proved during court proceedings that Rana was aware of Headley’s involvement with LeT and supported the organisation by providing cover for his activities. Headley, who conducted reconnaissance of the targets in Mumbai during multiple visits to India, is currently serving a 35-year sentence in the United States.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) plans to question Rana about his visits to Mumbai, Agra, Hapur, Cochin and Ahmedabad between 13-21 November 2008, immediately before the attacks. India’s extradition request for Saeed remains pending with Pakistani authorities.

Gyanesh Kumar, the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India, is an Harvard University alumni. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel recommended Kumar’s name and he is appointed as new CEC today following President’s order. He is the first CEC to be appointed under new law on appointment of election commissioner. 

Kumar assumed charge as Election Commissioner on March 15, 2024. His tenure as Election Commissioner was until January 26, 2029.  His name as CEC was finalised and recommended to the President by the selection committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi

Who is Gyanesh Kumar

Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, helped in drafting  the bill that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and split the former state into two union territories. Back then, he was the Joint Secretary (Kashmir Division) in the Home Ministry.

In 2020, as Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, Kumar oversaw significant matters related to the Supreme Court case on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, including managing documents that contributed to the creation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

After completing his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from llT Kanpur, he has studied Business Finance from lCFAl, lndia and Environmental Economics from HllD, Harvard University, USA. Under the Government of India, Kumar had worked as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence; Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs; Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation. He superannuated on 31st of January, 2024.

He has also worked in the Government of Kerala as Assistant Collector of Ernakulam; Sub Collector of Adoor; MD of Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST; Municipal Commissioner of Corporation of Cochin; MD of Kerala State Cooperative Bank; Director of lndustries and Commerce; District Collector of Ernakulam; Secretary of Goshree lslands Development Authority; MD of Trivandrum Airport Development Society; Project Director of Kerala State Transport Project and Resident Commissioner of Kerala House in New Delhi.

As Gyanesh Kumar is now CEC, Government of India has appointed IAS Vivek Joshi as Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. 

Estimated to be about 40 to 90 meters wide, 2024 YR4 has an average 2 per cent chance of hitting Earth, on December 22, 2032.

According to Dr Paul Chodas of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, this size range is comparable to that of a large building.

Which countries are on its radar?

As per NASA, in the unlikely event of 2024 YR4 being on a collision trajectory, the impact would occur somewhere along a ‘risk corridor,’ which extends across the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia.

Therefore, some of the countries which could be in the asteroid’s path are: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.

How significant is the risk?

Currently, 2024 YR4 is at Torino Scale 3, an uncommon one for an asteroid to be rated at. Astronomers describe this level as a ‘close encounter meriting attention’ because such an asteroid has a 1 per cent or greater chance of a collision, one severe enough to cause localised destruction.

Severity of likely impact, current position

In the event of a collision, 2024 YR4 would impact at a high velocity, roughly 17 kilometres per second or about 38,000 mph, NASA said.

Space journalist Kate Arkless Gray told BBC that at around 40 meters, the hit would be ‘something like an air blast,’ i.e., there wouldn’t be too much damage except shattering of some windows.

“However, on the 90 meters end of the scale, we’re looking at what they would call a city killer, where if it was to land on a major city – and there are a few in the potential hit zone – that would be disastrous,” she added.

As of January 31, 2025, the 2024 YR4 is 48 million km (30 million miles) from Earth, and the asteroid is moving farther away on its outbound path around the Sun. It will continue its orbit around the Sun and will safely return to Earth’s neighborhood in 2028.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva with other party leaders and MPs during a meeting, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

The BJP will appoint observers — senior politicians who will represent the party’s central leadership — before the legislature party meeting. The observers’ role is to talk to the party’s MLAs and give their feedback to the central leadership before the name of the CM is finalised.

New Delhi CM to take oath on February 20

Sources within the BJP further said that the new Delhi Chief Minister will take oath on February 20 at Ramlila Maidan.

The meeting to pick the new Delhi leader was earlier supposed to be held on Monday but was later postponed.

“The BJP Legislature Party meeting scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Now this meeting will be held on February 19. The swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister will also be held on February 20 instead of February 18,” a BJP source said.

Who will attend the Delhi CM swearing-in ceremony?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers, NDA leaders, Union Ministers, industrialists from the corporate world, film stars, cricket players, saints and sages will be present and attend the swearing-in ceremony, as per BJP sources.

Delhi Assembly election: Key points to remember

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Delhi after a gap of more than 26 years after winning 48 of the 70 Assembly seats in the capital.
• It ended the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) 10-year rule in Delhi.
• Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections took place on February 5, and the results were announced on February 8.
• Several names are in the race for the position of Delhi CM, with the most prominent being Parvesh Verma.
• Parvesh Verma became a key figure in the Delhi political race after defeating AAP national convenor and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat.
• Satish Upadhyay is another strong contender for the CM position. He has served as the Delhi BJP president and was also the president of the Delhi Youth Wing.
• The third name on the list is Ashish Sood.
• Jitendra Mahajan is also considered a potential candidate for the CM position.
• The fifth name in the running is Vijender Gupta.
• If the party opts for a female leader, former Delhi Mayor and first-time MLA Rekha Gupta could be a possibility.

Live

India News Live: Stay informed with our live blog covering India’s latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country. Stay connected with the most crucial stories shaping India, all in one place.

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is tasked with cutting government spendings, shared the post on X on Sunday.

“US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled,” the US government department said.

“$486M to the ‘Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,’ including $22M for ‘inclusive and participatory political process’ in Moldova and $21M for voter turnout in India,” it added.

BJP slams DOGE

BJP leader Nalin Kohli said the exercise would amount to interference in India’s electoral process.

“Why would any US agency wish to give $21 million for election-related work in India? Would that not amount to interference in India’s electoral process?We are the world’s largest democracy. Free and fair elections are held here. Institutionally there are mechanisms that ensure free and fair elections, including the Election Commission of India,” he added.

He further stated that instances similar to these had been seen in the past where the Congress engaged with organizations like Cambridge Analytica to create an influence in order to interfere with the country’s election process.

“In the past, we have seen certain political parties like Congress even engaging with organizations like Cambridge Analytica in an attempt to create some kind of influence that may change around or interfere with the election process…Certainly, if anyone has received money under it, that has to be made clear and if something like that is being stopped it is in the larger interest of freedom of democracy without interference,” Kohli added.

BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani said that it was up to the Indian agencies vested with power to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country.

“It’s up to our agencies vested with the power to protect the integrity and sovereignty of India to seize USAIDs accounts in India and follow the disbursal trail of the $21 million earmarked for the voter turnout project and unearth the stooges of the Democratic Deep State. They should then be visited with the full force of the law dealing with subverting the Indian State – in common parlance TREASON,” Jethmalani’s post read.

SY Quraishi, the former Chief Election Commissioner, weighed in on the controversy, saying there was an MoU with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems for training in 2012, but no financing was involved.

BJP’s Amit Malviya claimed “external interference” in India’s electoral process.

“$21 million for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” Malviya posted.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India’s institutions by forces opposed to the nation’s interests–those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity,” he added.

With inputs from ANI

Indian electric aircraft startup ePlane secures $1bn air ambulance deal

The ePlane Company, an Indian electric aircraft startup, said on Monday it has agreed to supply 788 air ambulances in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, at a time when the country is grappling with worsening traffic congestion in busy cities. Under the non-binding agreement, it will supply the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to ICATT, an air ambulance service provider, which plans to deploy them across all districts in India.